Iraq’s Independent High Commission for Human Rights on Thursday (December 8th) called for putting an end to the daily suffering of civilians trapped in certain areas of Kirkuk province which remain under the control of the "Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant" (ISIL).

The commission urged the Iraqi government to liberate the areas of al-Hawijah, al-Riyadh and al-Abbasi, saying in a statement that "local residents in those areas are suffering from the repression and terrorism of gangs".

It said that ISIL executed many residents after accusing them of collaborating with Iraqi forces.

"One example is what happened to al-Jubur tribe chief, Ibrahim al-Muhairi, and his companions, who were kidnapped and taken to an unknown site," the commission said.

"Women and children are facing a major shortage of food and medicine, and are forced to escape from their areas risking their own lives because ISIL has planted improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and set up ambushes along the roads," it said.

"They also have to walk long distances on foot," it added.

Delaying the liberation of those areas "will threaten the security and stability of other secure areas in Kirkuk", the commission warned.